Republican Views on Energy

Republicans have been criticized in recent years for its lack of focus on climate change, but its beliefs about energy dependence and its environmental impact have been positive for the most part. According to the Republican Party, oil and natural gas reserves in the U.S. are significantly high, and the pathway to an independent energy source is through the use of these reserves. The country’s on and offshore reserves need to be used for powering the country and promoting job creating as well, according to the party. Moreover, the party believes in giving the states a reasonable share of the royalties and revenue resulting from the use of oil and natural gas resources within its borders.

To this extent, the Republican Party has supported the Outer Continental Shelf energy development strategy of the current administration and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge coastal plain that helps in the exploration and production of natural gas and oil reserves on federal land. The party has strongly voiced its concerns over the Kyoto Protocol and mandatory carbon emission controls proposed by the United Nations because of its focus on oil and natural gas production. For this reason, it supports the current administration and President in their opposition against the Kyoto Protocol and other carbon emission controls that could come in the way of the country’s energy independence and economic growth.

The Republican Party has come under a lot of criticisms for its stance supporting the use of oil and natural gas resources, but the party has also supported the development of renewal resources for long-term energy independence. This stance has become increasingly vocal in the last few years as concerns over the environment increase. The party believes that the best way to promote the development of renewable energy is through the private sector. To this effect, they believe that tax reductions and other incentives for business can help promote research into the field.

The Republican Party also supports the development of clean coal energy sources, but their support towards the coal industry has diminished to a large extent in the last few years. In fact, it has shifted focus from clean coal resources to the development of renewable resources as well, and acknowledges that fossil fuels are not a feasible long-term fuel source. Republicans believe that American should move towards zero emissions sources, but the bridge to that future is through the country’s fossil fuels.

In terms of renewable energy, the Republican Party has called for a more aggressive strategy for their development, especially for solar, wind, hydro, tidal, geothermal, and biomass energy. Rather than focus on federal research, however, the party believes in market-based research on the technology and partnerships between emerging renewable energy industries and current energy industries.

Over the past three or four years, the party’s stance on renewable energy has become stronger as it calls for the introduction of renewable energy resources into the mainstream. One of its most unique strategies is the advocacy of long-term tax credit for renewable energy sources.